This blog is meant to display my coins/currency notes/stamps, in an informative manner, which would be useful to users in knowing about the history of the period when these coins/banknotes/stamps were minted/printed and events/persons they honour/depict, both on Indian and foreign coins/banknotes/stamps. The content would be more in the nature of a walk down memory lane through my collection/articles.

This Special Cover issued by the Army Post Office commemorates the Golden Jubilee (50 Years) of the raising of the "151 Air Defence Regiment (Self Propelled) (Chhamb)". The pictures on the left shows the personnel of the Regiment and bears the inscription "Swarn Jayanti Samaroh 1966-2016" (in Hindi) and "Golden Jubilee Celebration 1966-2016" (in English) . The insignia of the Regiment appears above the pictures and below the inscription "151 Vayu Raksha Regiment (Swachalit) (Chhamb)" (in Hindi) and "151 Air Defence Regiment (Self Propelled) (Chhamb)" (in English).

The Princely State of Sirmoor look-alike postage stamp of 500 Paise or Rs.5/- issued by India Post in 2010 has been cancelled with a hand-stamp inscribed "151 Vayu Raksha Regiment (Swachalit) (Chhamb)" (in Hindi) and "151 Air Defence Regiment (Self Propelled) (Chhamb)" (in English)." and it bears in the centre the insignia of the Regiment. Above and below the insignia is mentioned "Swarn Jayanti Samaroh 1966-2016" (in Hindi) and "Golden Jubilee Celebration 1966-2016" (in English) . The cancellation is marked "C/O 56 APO" and is dated "05.12.2016".

The Back of the Special Cover shows the logo the Army Post Office (APO). On the top is mentioned "Mail Milap" (meaning "meeting or joining through post/mail"). A stork traditionally symbolising "delivery" carries the mail for delivery.

The Information Brochure issued together with the Special Cover by the 56 APO is inscribed "151 Vayu Raksha Regiment (Swachalit) (Chhamb)" (in Hindi) and "151 Air Defence Regiment (Self Propelled) (Chhamb)" (in English)." and it bears in the centre the insignia of the Regiment. Below the insignia is the Motto of the Regiment "Aakashe Shatrun Jahi" (in Hindi) . Below this is two images of the Unit in action and names of the Operations the Unit was deployed in - OP CACTUS LILY, OP TRIDENT, OP VIJAY, OP RAKSHAK (J&K), OP RAKSHAK (PUNJAB), OP PARAKRAM.

It was reorganised as a Composite AD Regiment in November 1977, equipped with the State- of-the-Art ZSU-23-4B Schilkas and two Batteries of ZSU-23 mm Twin Guns.

On 01.12.1983, the Regiment was re-organised as 151 Air Defence Regiment (Self Propelled) with three Batteries of Schilkas.

In 2014, the Unit became the first one of the upgraded Schilka Regiment.

During the past 50 years of its existence, the Unit has displayed indomitable spirit and has performed exceptionally well in all spheres and contributed immensely in all operations - Op CACTUS LILY (12/1971), Op TRIDENT (12/1986 to 03/1987), Op RAKSHAK (Punjab - 08/1998 to 06/1999), Op VIJAY (07/1999 to 03/2000) & Op PARAKRAM (12/2001 to 03.2003).

On the occasion of the Unit's Golden Jubilee, all personnel paid homage to their colleagues who have passed on and kept the Regimental Colours flying high and inspiring the present servicemen of the Unit to achieve greater laurels for the Regiment.Corps of Army Air Defence (AAD):The Corps of Army Air Defence is an active Corps of the Indian Army and a major combative formation, tasked with air defences of the country from foreign threats. The AAD is responsible for the protection of Indian air space from enemy aircraft and missiles, especially below 5,000 feet.The history of the AAD dates back to 1939, during the period of the British Raj in India. Post Independence, the Corps has participated in all the wars involving India, starting from the 1947 Indo-Pak War to the 1999 Kargil War.After 1994, the Corps has enjoyed autonomous status, after the bifurcation of the Corps of Air Defence Artillery from the Army's Artillery regiment. The Corps personnel are trained at a separate Army Air Defence College (AADC).The size of the Corps is about 85,000 soldiers and 6,000 officers. The Corps is organised into Brigades, Regiments and Battalions under Army Division and Corps.The Regimental Crest/Emblem portrays a missile in silver tint, with radar antennae in gold colour fixed on either side.The Motto of the Corps placed at the bottom of the crest is "Aakashe Shatrun Jahi" (in Sanskrit) (in English - meaning "Kill the Enemy in the Sky") which was adopted as the Regimental motto in 1996.The Regimental Flag consists of two halves. The upper and lower halves comprise sky blue and red colours respectively. The upper sky blue colour symbolises clear blue skies that are protected by the Air Defence Corps guns and missiles, which are symbolised by the red colour. The equipment (Missiles & Missile Systems used by the Corps are Akash SAM, Kub (SA-6 Gainful), S-125 Neva/Pechora, S-200, 9K33 Osa (SA-8 Gopher), 9K35 Strela-10 (SA-13 Gopher), 9K22 Tunguska, ZSU-23-4M "Shilka", ZSU-23-2, FIM-92 Stinger.

About Me

I am Rajeev Prasad, a retired State Bank of India officer who had been collecting coins in a shoe box without having a serious interest. Only after quitting my job I got the time to take serious interest in developing my coin collection into a hobby. A pity, because I would have had more opportunity to lay my hands on more 'exclusive coins' while in the Bank. Anyway, as they say,better late than never. If you have any views to share with me regarding this blog , please contact me on my email rajeevprasad1208@gmail.com. I also have a twitter account @prasad_rajeev.
I had an opportunity to participate in a Documentary on the life and times of the 25 paise coin titled “Chal Basi Chavanni” (The four anna/twenty five paise coin passes away), aired by STAR NEWS on 29th and 30th June 2011. The programme helped in making many persons hold back onto their “chavannis”, the little round beauties, instead of returning them to Banks .